Photographer-RaeAnn Walters
Jacket-Lord and Taylor | Top-Uniqlo | Pants (sold out)-Zara, try this, this, or this | Sneakers-Puma
Dressing for joy: Clothes have powers. Certain outfits can dictate your mood. In my opinion, the perfect outfit will make you feel happy, confident, comfortable and cute of course. Maybe there is a color that always make you happy-you should wear it more often. Dress for joy. Look good for yourself because you want to. This outfit makes me so happy because I truly love every part of it. A fringe jacket has the ability to make any outfit look cool and I'm looking forward to spring weather so that I can wear it more often. I loved these wide leg pants at first sight because yellow is my happy color. Yellow represents light, joy, and positivity for me so I'm always drawn to color. I got these pants during Zara's semi-annual sale in January and they were $9.99! Unfortunately they're sold out but I found some other chic yellow and striped pants that I know you'll love. These pants would look great with heels (I should have worn heels according to my mom), but I think sneakers make the pants more fun and they add to the comfort of this outfit.
Living for joy: I'm not perfect. Sometimes I'm awkward. I'm silly at times. I smile often and laugh hard, not because I'm happy all the time but because joy lives within me and no matter how people and situations try to suppress my joy, it always rise to the top. I'm at a place in my life where I realize that my responsibilities will not always bring me happiness in the moment, so I've learned to spend as much time as possible in places and with people who bring out the joy in me.
No is a word I'm starting to use more these days. No is a complete sentence and I'm still learning how to say no without explaining myself or feeling bad about it. However, saying no to nonsense, situations that leave me feeling unfulfilled, and people who have taken advantage of my kindness and skills in the past is so gratifying. I've become an expert at saying no with a smile because it softens the blow. However saying no with a serious face also comes easily to me when it's necessary.
I know who I am. I know who people want me to be. More importantly, I'm doing my best to accept who God is molding me into. Right now I'm trying to figure out the next step in my career and I find myself getting frustrated often. I'm human. I'm what some people consider successful, but I'm far away from reaching my desired level of success. I'm grown but I still have a lot of growing to do. The growth is uncomfortable because I'm being stretched. I don't know what God is preparing me for or what He wants me to do next. I feel like I'm in limbo and right now He's telling me to wait and keep holding on. One day it will all make sense but right now I'm tired. God cannot be rushed, nor can the journey, so I'm trying to be patient with Him because that's the only choice I have. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm carrying the weight of my world on my shoulders. But as a Christian, I'm wise enough to recognize that it is God who is holding my shoulders up.
How do you keep a smile on your face and your head held high when you feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? The answer is God, faith, and prayer. I talk to Him through prayer often and ask Him to hold me up and stand strong with His strength. Sometimes I get so consumed by my life that I forget to ask Him for help. When that happens, He either swoops in and makes a miracle for me or He guides me to come to my senses and I ask Him to breathe new strength into me. I have faith that God is using my hardships for good. I can smile through sunshine and a storm because God is always with me; my smile holds the power to brighten someone's day and I very much enjoy being light.
This week I want to encourage you to be light, use your hardships for good, and dress for joy! You can't control everything that happens to you but you can chose how to respond to it. Every time you have the urge to complain, say something you are grateful for instead. Do not allow the weight of your problems and frustrations to hinder you from being the best you can be and spreading positivity. God is working everything together for your good!
Definitely going to practice expressing my gratitude when I feel the urge to complain and also work on saying No without feeling Guilty
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